If it is possible to have a nemesis in Sunday League football, then consider TPR Professor Moriarty to Phoenix’s Sherlock Holmes. Games rarely finish without some kind of altercation, including actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm and intent to harm. On the pitch, the games are usually hard fought, and any kind of result is celebrated. The last time we played TPR, we managed to lose a two goal advantage and ended up drawing, so we were desperate to finish the job off this time around.
The first half kicked off with Phoenix playing uphill and into the wind. Coupled with an early kick off, it took us a while before we started playing anything resembling football. Despite a number of early chances, TPR could not break through our defence, who were the only Phoenix players awake. Jamie Davis and John Selbie were excellent from the off, but eventually the deadlock was broken midway through the first half. A looping TPR corner was turned in at close range, but heads did not drop. Phoenix responded with panache, and five minutes later the scores were levelled. Fernando picked up the ball in the oppositions half and cut across field, playing a ball through the defenders to the onrushing Jules, who finished well under pressure.
With the scores levelled Phoenix started to play with more confidence, and with all things considered, a draw a half time was a good result.
With no subs on the bench the team remained unchanged, with Dens on the left behind Bradley, Alex and the Babymaker in midfield, and the Wall and Timmy on the right. Jules and Fernando continued their mythical partnership upfront.
The first few minutes of the second half went phoenix’s way, but we just couldn’t capitalise on our chances. Then ten minutes in disaster happened. The Babymaker tried to mount one of the TPR players in the box, and a penalty was duly given. Alex Manby Jr who was deputising for Sam in goal went the right way, and was unlucky to see the ball deflect in for a goal.
Real character was needed to turn the game around, and with twenty minutes left on the clock, Phoenix grabbed the bull by the horns and started to really play. The Babymaker, who was undoubtedly crushed by his giving away of the penalty ran as if the whips of Satan were upon him, forcing himself through a number of challenges before twatting one in off the post. The goal tilted the balance of power in favour of Phoenix, who like a school of piranhas, smelt blood.
Jules led by example and ran his socks off, ensuring that no TPR player has more than a micro-second on the ball. With Phoenix starting to press, TPR were giving the ball away across the park. Timmy, who was having a blinder on the right, robbed one of the oppo of the ball before bending in a shot from the edge of the area. The keeper fumbled, and Jules showed great instinct to bury the parried shot. Three two up and Phoenix continued to look for more goals, Bradley had a shot from way out drift narrowly wide, and Fernando wasted a good opportunity by chipping the ball into the keeper’s hands.
In order to protect such a slender lead, Jules made the decision to put five in midfield, and Fernando dropped to right mid. The tactical change made an instant difference, and some great interplay from The Wall and Timmy on the right saw Jules free on goal. El Capitano wasted no time in securing the victory, by planting a solid strike past the keeper from a tight angle. Four two, and one of the finest performances from a Phoenix side in the history of the club, showing immense character to come back from behind not once, but twice.
Man of the Match: Jules. By far the best performance of his Camden Musical Association League career. The well deserved hat-trick could not have come at a more important time, and his tactical decision to swamp the midfield worked excellently.
